Totton College £40m rebuild gets the green light (From Daily Echo)

Totton College £40m rebuild gets the green light

6:10am Tuesday 16th December 2008 in News By Chris Yandell, Chief Reporter, New Forest

Artists impression of Totton College complex

PLANS to bulldoze a Hampshire college and rebuild it from scratch have been approved.

Totton College has been given the go-ahead to demolish all the 50-year-old buildings on the site and provide its 5,000 students with new state-of-the-art facilities.

The £40m scheme will see the creation of what the college describes as a “world class” learning environment.

The new-look campus will comprise a three-storey complex with three wedge-shaped wings.

It will boast a futuristic design as well as several eco-friendly features including “green” roofs covered in plants, solar panels and facilities that will enable the college to recycle rainwater.

The scheme was approved at a meeting of New Forest District Council’s planning and development control committee.

Totton councillor George Dart said: “The college is one of the best in the country. This proposal is something that can only be commended.”

Brockenhurst member Maureen Holding, a retired teacher, added: “The new building will be a beacon.”

College principal Mark Bramwell told the committee: “Nationally for the first time public money has become available to replace and modernise all sixth-form colleges.

“To continue to be successful we need an environment that is fully fit for purpose, a building that can inspire learners for generations to come.

“It will provide outstanding educational facilities that will contribute to the quality of life of the whole community and, through 21st century design, raise aspirations for all our people.”

The new complex will be built between Totton Leisure Centre and the Tottonians RFC clubhouse, both of which will remain.

The Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) building will also stay but all the other college buildings will be demolished in phases over the next five years.

A report to councillors said the scheme would devour 2,000 square metres of sports pitches but the loss of open space would be outweighed by improvements to the college facilities.

Totton councillor Ron Scrivens said: “This is a one-off opportunity to enhance the lives of a lot of people.”